A romantic drive through the Black Forest

Besides having a cake named after it, Germany’s Black Forest is the setting for many of Grimm Brothers’ stories as well as being famous for its cuckoo clocks. Lorena Mayr takes us on a romantic drive through this enchanting region.

This is really the place where the Grimm Brothers were inspired for their many fairy tales, like Hansel and Gretel or Little Red Riding Hood. Even though one usually thinks of a forest as a relatively small area, the Black Forest in Germany is quite vast. How about a romantic drive through some of the most fairy-tale towns and nature in southwest Germany?

Driving on the romantic roads

The main road, the Black Forest “Hochstraße” (or literally “high road”, or highway) is 60 kilometers long, and connects the towns of Baden-Badenin the valley of the Rhine with Freudenstadt (which means “joy city”) in the mountains, and is one of the oldest road in Germany. A long time ago this road was used to transport logs. Now it is one of the popular roads for tourism because of its beauty, and you have a choice of lovely hotels and picturesque towns along the way.

The road is 100 kilometers long road, is romantic for its scenery and traditional villages is the road between Rastatt and Freudenstadt, but make sure you are driving through Gernsbach.

There is so much to see in this area, from lakes and rivers, to mountains and glaciers, moors, canyons and gorges. So how about some hiking and some romantic walks?

Most hikes and walks in the Black Forestare well marked with different colored route markers. Some are yellow, some red and white, or a combination of these. This sounds easy enough to follow and often it is, but sometimes you run into trouble because one hike might follow several different colored route markers.

Nevertheless, the hikes are relatively simple to follow. Just grab a map or bring your handy cell phone along with navigation on it and go for it. The beauty of the hikes is definitely worth it.

Shopping

You might also know that the Black Forestis known for its cuckoo clocks. If you are interested in at least looking at some of the museums, if not also shopping for one, then the town of Pforzheimis where you want to head to. It is the hub for clock and jewelry making and it also has a small museum about time keeping and ancient jewelry pieces. Triberg and Freiburgare also small towns well-known for their clocks and other traditional crafts.

Piece of cake

Wondering where you can stay overnight? Not to worry, there are plenty of small huts along the hiking trails and villages along the main streets. Sometimes just driving along and stopping somewhere that looks and feels like a place you would feel comfortable in, is the best way to go.

While you are there, you cannot forgo trying the famous Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, or the Black Forestcake. It is a many-layered chocolate cake with cherries, and on top, grated chocolate which resembles tree bark. It is delicious.

So if you are in Germany, don’t miss the chance of going on a great hike or even a nice drive along the hilly and romantic roads of the Black Forest. It will take your breath away.

Have your driven or traveled through the Black Forest? Was there anything we missed? Let us know in the comments below.